Not enough shots for Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin likes to shoot. Stop the presses. The Capitals superstar left wing has led the NHL in shots every season he has been in the league.

So it’s more than a little surprising that he’s wallowing tied for 20th among all guys in the playoffs with just nine shots through three games. A lot of it is the product of the Rangers blocking a lot, but Ovechkin has taken only 32 attempts at the net.

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“We want to score five goals but it is kind of hard right now,” Ovechkin said. “Everybody give attention to D, so it is kind of hard.”

Ovechkin has two goals and two assists and leads the Caps with those four points. But his inability to get pucks in on Henrik Lundqvist is a storyline of this series, which resumes Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Of his 32 attempts, 14 have gotten blocked.

“He’s gotta find a way to get it through,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “He knows they’re going down to block ‘em. Avoid it somehow.”

That might be easier said than done, but Ovechkin may be able to improve on his shooting inaccuracy, too, as he has missed nine attempts entirely.